The Land Component Commander: Is One Required

Abstract

Research Problem. Joint doctrine does not address the conflict between how the U.S. Army and the Unified Commanders in Chief (CINCs) prefer to organize ground forces in a theater of operations. The Army prefers a subordinate land component commander (LCC). This monograph seeks to answer the question: when does a theater of operations need a subordinate LCC? Research Method. The monograph reviews the problem, describes the organizational options, surveys the historical trends, and conducts a detailed analysis using three criteria, three principles of war: objective, unity of command, and simplicity. Conclusions. There are five considerations which may favor the use of a subordinate LCC: theater immaturity, leader inexperience, objective concentration, CINC weakness, and parochial interest. A strong subordinate LCC is a means to ensure unity of land force command, if the CINC has a different nationality from the major land force, that nation may need a subordinate LCC to protect its interests.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 09, 1991
Accession Number
ADA243341

Entities

People

  • Andrew S. Sandoy

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Central Europe
  • Command And Control
  • Doctrine
  • Far East
  • Geography
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Organization Theory
  • Organizational Structure
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • Terrain
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Strategic Security Studies